[development] XML Data to Custom Node Import - where to start? Offer to develop?

[Eric Hole]

Chris,

This is probably a long shot in terms of actually making it happen, but I
would take a look at the Date Copy module, specifically the iCal feed
importing.  It lets you copy data from the iCal feed into CCK nodes.  It
would certainly take some work to generalize it for any XML feed, but it
might be possible to use some of the stuff in there as a framework a guide
and and then rework the iCal import as a plugin to a more general XML node
import module.

Not that I'm offering, but I think this would be a good start.

Eric

On 8/15/07, Boris Mann <boris at bryght.com> wrote:
>
> There is a feature / patch in the Feed API module queue for
> specifically this, and we need this functionality as well. XML feed
> --> CCK field mapping.
>
> On 8/15/07, Chris <drupal_support.lists at toastfirst.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Requirements:
> >
> >  Assumption:  Input file  = standard XML file {e.g
> > http://www.w3schools.com/xml/note.xml}
> >
> > i) Enable user input of custom XML page by provision of web address url
> to
> > an XML page (in similar fashion to feed; but it is not a feed)
> >    Possible enable user input via browser paste (thoughts for/against
> > welcome)
> > ii) Primary parse to display and allow 'deselection' of fields from XML
> > import that are not required (by default, or set default to 'select'
> > required)
> > iii) Import XML (with additional parameters set in ii) to [custom] node
> type
> > iii) Enable edit of imported node list (such as deletion of non-required
> > records from list - can/may arguably be done with content listing by
> type)
> > iv) Enable linking of key# data field in XML import to key# data field
> in
> > existing nodes (of type) for duplicate identification and/or replacement
> [or
> > default global replace - achieved by relevant call to drupal].
> >
> > My findings suggest that:
> > - there is nothing currently available to import XML pages with custom
> data
> > sets
> > - there are some that require same
> > - CCK and Views may be suitable to help make this a generic contribution
> by
> > way of creating destination node type? Also 'know of node import' but
> not
> > yet investigated relevancy
> >   (question to note - if use CCK do we have access to data [ie is it
> stored
> > seperately?] in DB for later export or additional requirments?)
> > - there are some existing API's for RSS/XML but I'm not sure if anything
> of
> > use for this application
> > - there is some 'Google SUmmer of Code' work to look at feeds; but I do
> not
> > think this is relevant.
> >
> > I have not developed anything custom for Drupal for a couple of years
> and
> > find the mix of contribs in this area 'confusing' so please lend me your
> > wisdom:
> >
> > - any suggested approaches to re-use existing API's and contributions
> > - any existing projects underway that this might impact or work with
> > - any willing developers / helpers /shadowers to help ramp up and/or to
> > build a module for this
> >
> > Additional Comments:
> > This capability would be great for commercial applications.
> > If I do this it is likely to be in the near future and to customer time
> > constraints I would be happy to contribute back to drupal.
> > As you can see this i not specd yet but these are my ideas so far based
> on
> > my client requirement and 'quick' initial look at available options
> > Any head start with better approach, where to look, who to talk to and
> what
> > to research to measure viability/effort required would be very welcome
> > indeed.
> >
> > regards
> >
> > Chris.
>
>
> --
> Boris Mann
> Office 604-682-2889
> Skype borismann
> http://www.bryght.com
>
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